Cleaner for dairy equipment



March 4, 1941. J. A. SCHMITT v CLEANER FOR DAIRY EQUIPMENT Filed June13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII March 4, 1941 J sc M2,233,852

CLEANER FOR DAIRY EQUIPMENT Filed June 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR Bfi ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECLEANER, FOR DAIRY EQUIPMENT John A. Schmitt, Waukesha, Wis, assignor toThe Universal Milking Machine Company, Waukesha, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application June 13, 1940, Serial No. 340,270

8 Claims. (Cl. 141-1) My invention relates in general to improveingaction, and were undesirably complicated ments in the art of cleansingdairy equipbecause they did not utilize standard milking ment or thelike, and relates more specifically to machine parts to facilitatewashing or cleansing. improvements in the construction and operation Itis therefore a more specific object of my s of apparatus for washing andsterilizing the present invention to provide an extremely simteat cups,connecting tubes and pail lids of milkple, compact and readilymanipulable washing ing machines. device for quickly and effectivelycleansing the An object of the invention is to provide an teat cups,suspension tubes, and pail covers or improved device for cleansing theteat cups, conlids of milking machines of various types,

Hr necting tubes and pail lids of milking machines Another specificobject of the present inven- 10 or the like, in a most eflicient andexpeditious tion is to provide an improved dairy equipment manner.cleaner which will simultaneously cleanse the A number of difierenttypes of mechanisms teat cups, hose connections, and pail lids in a haveheretofore been proposed and utilized for most efiicient manner andwithout necessitatin the purpose of cleansing the teat cups and tubesseparation of these elements. I of milking machines, and in several ofthese A further specific object ofthis invention is prior cleaningdevices a vacuum pump and speto provide an improved unit for washingmilking cial valve mechanism were employed for the purmachine parts,which utilizes many of the standpose of creating a succession of reversefiows of ard milking machine elements in its assemblage 2o cleansingliquid through the teat cups and their and which can therefore bemanufactured and suspension tubes from and to a bath of liquid sold atrelatively moderate cost. in which the cups were submerged. In one ofStill another specific objectof the invention these prior cleaningassemblages, the teat cup is t Provide a new and useful milking c esuspension tubes were connected to a fixed tank teat cup and tubecleaning unit which is most :5 the interior of which wasrepeatedlysubjected to eflicient, reliable, and automatic in operation.

vacuum and to atmosphere so that liquid from These and other specificobjects of the inventhe supply source was passed through the teat tionwill be apparent from the following detailed cups and tubes when avacuous condition predescription. vailed in the tank, and the liquid wasreturned A clear conception of the several features con- :m from thetank to the supply source when a prestituting my present invention, andof the mode so determined amount of liquid had beenadmitted ofconstructing and of utilizing dairy equipment thereto, as determined bya special float concleaners embodying the improvement, may be trolledvalve associated with the tank. In had by referring to the drawingsaccompanying another of the prior washing assemblages, the and forming apart of this specification wherein :25 admission of liquid to theauxiliary tank from like reference characters designate the same or thesupply source through the teat cups and similar Parts in the VariousViewstubes, and the return of .the cleansing liquid to Fig. 1 is a somwhat dia a mat vertical the source, were controlled by bodily moving thecentral section through one of the improved supplementary tank withwhich the vacuum cleaning devices, showing the same cooperating m pumpwas communicable, to thereby again oper-- with a standard pail lid, teatcups and connect- 40 ate special control valve mechanism; and both ingtubes of the type where the pail is normally of these prior types ofapparatus are extremely disposed remote from the cow, the apparatuscomplicated and require considerable attention being shown in actionwith the auxiliary flushing in order to maintain the same in operatingcontank under vacuum; I

dition. Aside from this objection, only one of Fig. 2 is a view similarto that of Fig. 1, but 5 the prior washing devices attempted tosimulshowing the auxiliary flushing receptacle contaneously wash andsterilize the pail covers or, nected to atmosphere; lids with which theteat cup suspension tubes are Fig. 3 is a top view of a standardpulsator such normally associated, and in the others it was as isnormally applied to the center opening of 60 necessary to remove thesetubes from the lids pail covers or lids of various types;

and to separately cleanse the separated elements. Fig. 4 is, an enlargedfragmentatry part sec- The prior assemblages for washing the teat cupstional view of the air and vacuum control mechand tubes,moreoverrequired relatively large anism of a standard pulsator, showingthe same auxiliary tanks with which the vacuum pumps connecting theactive inlet duct with the vacwere associated, did not produce effectivewashuum pump;

While the improved apparatus has been shown and described herein ascooperating with only two relatively standard and well known types ofmilking machine assemblages, it is not my desire or intent to therebyunnecessarily limit ,or restrict the scope or utility of the invention.The term pulsator" as used herein is intended to define any device whichis adapted to alternately connect a space to a source of vacuum such asa pump, and to a source of higher pressure such as atmosphere, and suchdevices are normally utilized in milking machines of various types toproduce expansion and contraction of the rubber teat cup liners commonlyknown as inflations.

Referring to the drawings, and more especially to Figs. 1 to 5inclusive, the improved cleaning device for dairy equipment showntherein, comprises in general a source of cleansing liquid such as atank l0 having sterilizing and cleansing liquid H therein; a frame orbracket l2 adapted to be suspended froma wall or mounted on the floornear the tank l0 and having an inclined support l3 thereon forsupporting an inverted nail lid l4 in an inclined position and with thehose connections or tubes l5 thereof depending from its lower portion sothat the teat cups I 6 suspended from the tubes l5 will be completelysubmerged in the liquid H; a relatively small auxiliary tank ortransparent receptacle I! having a bottom rim l8 coacting with a sealinggasket l9 carried by the periphery of the pail lid l4 so as to tightlyclose the receptacle bottom opening; clamping mechanism consisting ofeccentrics 20 and one or more manipulating handles 2| associated witharms 22 on the bracket l2 for forcing the receptacle l'l against thegasket l9 and the latter against the pail lid H; a

pulsator connection 23 communicating with the uppermost portion of thereceptacle l1 and being connected by a hose 24 with one branch 25 of astandard double pulsator 26, the other branch 21 of which is.temporarily shut off by'caps 28 or otherwise, and which may bedetachably secured to a pad 29 of the bracket 12; and a duct 30communicating with the lower portion of the interior of the receptaclel1 and having therein a one-way valve 3|, the duct 30 being connectedbeyond the valve 3| with the supply tank I 0 by means of a liquid returnconduit 32.

The frame or bracket l2 may be of diverse formations, but shouldpreferably be adapted to support and retain the lid l4, receptacle l1,and the pulsator 26 assembled as a unit; and the pulsator 26 whichduring normal use of the milking machine is attached to the pail lid l4at the central opening 33 therein,-may be detached from this lid andclamped to the pad 29 in any suitable manner as by clamps 34. The paillid I4 is also provided with a manipulating bail or handle 35, and withone or more milk spigots 36 interposed between each of the teat cupsuspension tubes l5 and the lid, and the bracket l2 may be provided withan extension 31 or other means coacting with the spigots 36 when the lidI4 is inverted.

so as to prevent the tapered spigots from falling out of their sockets.When the pulsator 26 is attached to the pail lid l4 at the opening 33and the lid is applied to a pail for milking purposes,

the opening 33 has a check valve therein: but

a when the pulsator has been removed and the lid is prepared forwashing, then the opening 33 should be closed by a cork or plug 38 asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. The sealing gasket is which may be formed ofsoftrubber or thelike, forms part of the standard pail lid l4 and isnormally secured'to the lid by an annular lip 39, but may be, readilyremoved for cleaning.

The transparent receptacle I! which constitutes an important part of thepresent invention, maybe formed partly or completely of glass or thelike, so that the functioning of the apparatus will be plainly visible.This receptacle I1 is normally maintained in fixed or stationarycondition a by the bracket l2, and has relatively small liquid Theeccentrics 20 which serve to detachably clamp the receptacle l1, gasketl9, and lid I4 together, and to hold the lid l4 in place upon theinclined support I 3, may be secured to a crossshaft 40 and caused tocooperate with ears 4| secured to the top of the receptacle I I. Theshaft 40 ,coacts with the bearings in the fixed arms 22, and the handles2| are secured to the shaft ends, so that when the handles are swun in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, the rim l8 ofthe receptacle I1 will be forced firmly against the gasket l9, whereasreverse swinging of the handles 2| will withdrawthe receptacle I! fromthe gasket l9 andlid l4 and will permit free removal of the lid andgasket. When these parts are properly positioned and clamped together,the pail lid l4 will be inverted and inclined with the teat cup tubes l5depending from the lower portion thereof; and the receptacle I1 willhave its lower opening sealed by the lid l4 and the valved duct 30should communicate with the interior of the receptacle near itslowermost portion 50 as to insure complete drainage of liquid II whenatmosphericair is admitted to the receptacle. The pulsator. connection23 should communicate with the interior of the receptacle I! at itshighest portion as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, so that no liquid willpass through the hose 24 to the pulsator 26.

The standard pulsator 26 which normally forms a part of the ordinarycommercial milking machine, may be of various types having one or moreconnections or branches 25, 21 which are attached to the teat cup tubes42 during milking operations. When the pulsator 261s used for washingand cleansing purposes, all of these branches with the exception of thebranch 25, are blocked, oiT or sealed, and both inlets of the branch 25are connected to the receptacle connection 23 by means of a conduit orhose 24 as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The pulsator base of Fig. 4,wherein theval e 44 is shown in solid section connecting the port '43and branch 25 to vacuum through the port 46, while the port 44 is opento atmosphere, but when the valve 43 is shifted to the dot-and-dash lineposition, the port 43 will be open to atmosphere while the port 44 willbe connected to vacuum by the valve 43. The speed or stroke of thepulsator 26 may be adjusted by means of control mechanism 43, so thatthe period of time during which the interior of the receptacle llremains connected to vacuum and to atmosphere, may be varied at will,thereby permitting-more or less liquid H to be drawn through the teatcups l6 and tubes l6- during each cycle of operation of the pulsator.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, theimproved cleaning device for dairy equipment shown therein againutilizes the same type of tank l0, bracket l2 and receptacle I! in itsassemblage, but these parts are caused to cooperate with a pail lid l4of a modi-' fied type adapted to be suspended directly from the cows andhaving the teat cups I6 suspended therefrom by means of relatively shortindividual connecting tubes IS. The modified pail lid H has a centralopening 33 with which a standard pulsator 26 is detachably associable aspreviously described, and is also provided with an annular lip 39 forretaining a sealing gasket [9. The teat cup suspension tubes ii of themodified milking machine assemblage, are connected to ducts formed inand penetrating the lid 14', so that no spigots 36 are required; and thelid l4 due to the different mode of suspending the same directly fromthe cows, is provided with a modified supporting handle 35'. Otherwise,the assemblages of Figs. 1 and 7 may be identical, and since the normaloperation of the two asemblages is also similar, it will suflice tospecifically describe the'operation of one assemblage.

During normal operation of the improved washing and sterilizingassemblage specifically illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and assumingthe washing equipment to have been properly prepared, the teat cups 16will be submerged in an abundant supply of fresh washing liquid lldisposed. within the tank Ill. The control mechanism 49 of the pulsator26 should be adjusted to produce the desired operation of the pulsator,and the receptacle l'l should be firmly clamped against the invertedpail lid M with the aid of the eccentrics 20 and the handles 2|. Thevacuum pump 41 may then be placed in operation and when the slide valve48 of the pulsator 26 is effective to connect the'port 43 l with thevacuum port 45, the interior of the receptacle I! will be subjected tovacuum and liquid from the tank ID will be drawn through the teat cupsl6 and tubes l5, and through the spigots 36 into the interior of theauxiliary receptacle, as specifically shown in Fig. 1. When the valve 48is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 3 so as to open the port 43 toatmosphere,

then atmospheric pressure will be established liquid will thusquicklyescape from within the receptacle l1 and will return to the tank l0,and'that liquid which passes through the tubes l5 and teat cups l6 willeffectively flush the interiors of these elements. It is to be noted'that during the periods when the interior of the receptacle I1 issubjected to vacuum, the

one-way valve 3| will remain closed and all of the liquid entering thereceptacle ll must therefore pass through the' teat cups l6, connectingtubes l5, and' the spigots 36. The flushing action of the liquidentering and leaving the receptacle I! will obviously cleanse the paillid 14 as well as the teat cups and connecting tubes, and when thevacuum pump 41 is stopped or the operation of the pulsator 26 isarrested so as to leave the port 43 in' open communication with theatmosphere, then all liquid II will drain from within the receptacle l1,and this receptacle may thereafter be removed to permit removal of thepail lid M with its associated elements. The washing action isconstantly visible through the transparent walls of the receptacle l1,and may be continued until the milking machine parts have beenthoroughly cleansed. The washing action will obviously continue so lonas the parts remain assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and aspreviously indicated, the pulsator 26 may be quickly adjusted tointroduce the desired amount of liquid ll into the receptacle l1 duringeach successive pulsation.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that my presentinvention provides a dairy equipment cleaner which is extremely simpleand compact in construction and which is moreover highly efficient inoperation. The improved assemblage is adapted to produce relativelyshort and rapidly successive pulsations and to thereby subject themilking machine parts to repeated flushing action by virtue of the rapidflow therealong and therethrough. Because of the fact that standardmilking machine parts such as the pulsator 26 and lids l4, l4 may beutflized in the washing assemblage or unit, the cost of production ofthe washing mechanism is reduced to a minimum. The washing mechanism maybe quickly and. readily assembled and the unit may be suspended from awall or otherwise disposed, and occupies relatively small space becauseof its extremely compact construction. While the improved mechanism isadapted to effectively cleanse the teat cups and connecting tubes, it isalso adapted to simultaneously cleanse the pail lids, and since thereceptacle l1 and the lid I4 are maintained stationary during thewashing operation, the entire construction can obviously be reduced torelatively simple form and requires no complicated elements such asvalve mechanisms which are apt to become inoperative. The improved unithas proven highly successful in actual use, and is entirely automatic inoperation after having been properly assembled and adjusted.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use,herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scopeof the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim: I

1. A cleaning device for the teat cups and connecting tubes and pail lidof a milking machine, said device being of the type wherein the teatcups are submerged in a supply of cleansing liquid and comprising, areceptacle having an open bottom adapted to be closed by an invertedpail lid from which the teat cups are suspended by the connecting tubes,a pulsator connection communicable with the upper; portion of saidreceptacle, and an excess liquid discharge:

chine, said device being of the type wherein the teat'cups are submergedin a supply of cleansing liquid and comprising, a receptacle having anopen bottom adapted to be closed by an inverted pail lid from which theteat cups are suspended by the connecting tubes, a pulsator connectioncommunicable with the upper portion of said receptacle, and an excessliquid escape duct connecting the lower portion of said receptacle withthe cleansing liquid supply and having therein .a one-way valve forpermitting escape of liquid from said receptacle to said supply onlywhen the interior of said receptacle such escape when the receptacle isunder vacis exposed to atmosphere and for preventing uum.

3. A cleaning device for the teat cups and connecting tubes and pail lidof a milking machine, said device being of the type wherein the teatcups are submerged in a supply of cleansatmospheric pressure.

4. A cleaning device for the teat cups and connecting tubes and pail lidof a milking machine, said device being of the type wherein the teatcups are submerged in a supply of cleansing liquid and comprising, meansfor fixedly supporting a pail lid inverted, and in an inclined positionwith the teat cups suspended from a lower portion thereof by theconnecting tubes; a receptacle adapted to be supported upon and sealedby the pail lid coacting with said supporting means, a connectioncommunicating with the upper portion of said receptacle, a pulsatorcommunicatingwlth said connection and being operable to alternatelyestablish vacuum and atmospheric pressure within said receptacle, and aliquid discharge connection communicable with the lower portion of saidreceptacle and having therein valve means for permitting escape ofexcess liquid from said receptacle only when the interior thereof isunder atmospheric pressure.

5. A cleaning, device for the teat cups and connecting tubes of amilking machine while the tubes remain attached to the pail lid, saiddevice being of the type wherein the teat cups are submerged in asupplyof cleansing liquid and comprising, means for fixedlyanddetachably: suporting a pail lid with the teat cup suspension tubesdepending from the'lowest portion of the lid, a receptacle detachablyattachable to the fixed lid and having a pulsator connection at theuppermost portion thereof, a pulsator communicable with said connection,and an excess liquid discharge duct communicable with said receptacleonly when the interior thereof is under atmospheric pressure.

6. A cleaning device for the teat cups and connecting tubes of a-milklng machine while the tubes remain attached to the pail lid, saiddevice being of the type wherein the teat cups are submerged in a supplyof cleansing liquid and comprising, means for fixedly and detachablysupporting a pail lid with the teat cup suspension tubes depending fromthe lowest por-- tion of the lid, a receptacle detachably attachable tothe fixed lid and having a pulsator connection at the uppermostportionthereof, a pulsator communicable with said connection, an excessliquid discharge duct leading from the lower portion of said receptacleto the supply, and a valve in said duct for permitting escape of liquidtherethrough only when the interior of said receptacle is underatmospheric pressure.

7. A cleaning device for the teat cups and connecting tubes and paillids, of a milking machine, said device being of the type wherein one ormore teat cups are submerged in a supply of cleansing liquid andcomprising, a receptacle having an opening in its lower portion adaptedto be closed by a pail lid from which the teat' cups are suspended byconnecting tubes, a pulsator connection communicable with an upperportion of said receptacle, and an excess liquid discharge ductcommunicable with a lower portion of the receptacle and being providedwith means for permitting escape ofliquid from said receptacle when theinterior thereof is open to atmosphere and for preventing such escapewhen the receptacle interior is under vacuum.

8. A cleaning device for the teat cups and connecting tubes and paillids of a milking machine, said device being of the type wherein one ormore teat cups are submerged in a supply of cleansing liquid andcomprising, a receptacle having an opening in its lower portion adaptedto be closed by an inclined pail lid from the lower portion of which the'teat cups are suspended by connecting tubes, a pulsator connectioncommunicable with an upper portion of said receptacle, and an excessliquid discharge duct communicable with said receptacle near the lowerportion of the inclined lid and being provided with valve means forpermitting escape thereof is open to atmosphere andofor preventing suchescape when the receptacle interior is of liquid from said receptaclewhen the interior

